7-9 years for driver in Worcester crash that killed two

Friday

Mar 22, 2013 at 6:00 AMMar 22, 2013 at 12:33 PM

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A Grafton man was sentenced to 7 to 9 years in state prison after pleading guilty Thursday to charges resulting from a crash on Oct. 9, 2011, that left two young city men dead and a third critically injured.

Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker ordered 24-year-old Robert J Curran to serve his time at Walpole state prison. After his release, Mr. Curran will be placed on probation for 5 years.

Judge Kenton-Walker said she could have imposed a maximum sentence of 7 to 12 years. Assistant District Attorney Brett F. Dillon had recommended an 8 to 10 year sentence, with 5 years of probation.

Mr. Curran, who lived at 33 Buttercup Lane, was credited with 527 days served in jail.

According to police, Mr. Curran was driving between 80 and 100 miles an hour when he plowed into another car at Chandler and Piedmont streets.

The crash killed two of the men riding in the other vehicle —18-year-old Andres Guzman, the driver, and 19-year-old Joel Rodriguez.

A second passenger, 19-year-old Jesus Molina of Worcester, was hospitalized for a long period of time after suffering hip, back, and neck injuries. Mr. Dillon said Mr. Molina, who was not in court Thursday, still suffers from “survivor's guilt.”

Authorities charged that Mr. Curran was drinking at several bars before the crash and that he fled to a friend's home in Webster shortly after being examined by an emergency medical technician responding to the accident. Mr. Curran was later arrested at UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus after seeking treatment for his injuries.

The sentencing occurred during a 45-minute hearing during which Mr. Curran changed his plea.

Among the charges, Mr. Curran pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter by motor vehicle; three counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury and death, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

As part of the plea change, the district attorney's office dropped two motor vehicle homicide charges, a charge of negligent driving, and a charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Mr. Curran had a history of driving offenses dating back to 2005 and his license was suspended at the time of the accident.

About 25 friends and family of Mr. Guzman and Mr. Rodriguez attended the hearing and three of them told the judge how the accident had impacted their lives.

Daniel Lopez, Mr. Rodriguez's older brother, said his family has had a very tough time adjusting.

He said that Mr. Rodriguez's mother often stares out the back window waiting for her son, who wanted to be an FBI agent, to return home from school before realizing that that won't happen.

Family members said that Mr. Rodriguez's mother could not be in court Thursday because she suffers from depression and that the hearing would be too emotional for her.

Through an interpreter, Erwin De La Cruz said that Mr. Guzman, his stepchild, never caused problems at home or in the streets and was a good student.

“He left the house alive, well, and with plans,” said Mr. De La Cruz. “And the next morning, he's not there anymore because of an irresponsible person. … It (the accident) has affected our family. There is no Christmas, no Thanksgiving.”

Mr. De La Cruz said Mr. Curran left the accident victims dying in the street as if they were “animals.”

Meanwhile, Domari Ricci said the loss of Mr. Guzman, her son, has left “a hole” in her soul that never can be filled.

Speaking through an interpreter, attorney John Diaz, Ms. Ricci said she can no longer enjoy the hugs of her son, who hoped one day to be an engineer.

During the hearing, Mr. Curran, wearing a green shirt and black slacks, appeared several times to be on the verge of crying. But when questioned by the judge as to whether he understood the severity and implications of pleading guilty, Mr. Curran responded in a clear voice that he did.

In seeking leniency for her client, attorney Andrea R. Levy said Mr. Curran had experienced some difficulty in life but that he took responsibility for his actions.

“He did make a horrible mistake,” she said.

Ms. Levy said Mr. Curran, who is originally from San Diego, dropped out of Grafton High School in the 11th grade but went on to secure a graduate equivalency degree.

During the time of the crash, Mr. Curran, who is single, was employed full-time installing floors for New England Commercial Flooring.

His mother and stepfather live in South Carolina and no family or friend attended the hearing.